Chapter 84: Failsafe’s are great, until they get in your way
"So, if I am understanding this correctly, you don’t know how much money I own?" Cass thought that his meetings would have gone smoothly, but he was in his first one, one with a bank head, and he could already feel a headache coming on.
The bank head, who Cass had a chair brought over so he could sit down, was wringing his hands. He had brought a small bag full of papers, but it was clear that he was underprepared. Cass could understand somewhat. Sam had only reached out last night so it would have been a quick turn over.
However, if you have someone like Lord Blackburn involved with your bank, would you not fucking know?
Cass sighed, putting his head into his hand as the banker, a fairy, paled significantly. He swallowed.
"I-I apologise my Lord. It is not that I have no idea what your total funds are, it is just that you specifically told me that I was never to disclose that total amount. You said it was for safety reasons." Cass, who was in Lord Blackburn’s body, was pissed.
That should apply to others, not to him! That was to protect himself from his grandfather, and other greedy people. Why the hell would Lord Blackburn even-
Suddenly, Cass’ mind went back to what the god had said. There were two deals, and one was older. An unknown older, and they couldn’t tell who or what Lord Blackburn had made a deal with.
That response alone kind of told him everything that he needed to know, at least in regards to who the contract was made. Why the hell wouldn’t a god tell him that he’d made a deal with another god? That would be silly.
The deal was made with a demon. Which one? Well, there were so damn many, but now Cass was happy that he’d bought that book with all the demons in it. He had no idea what the fuck he was going to do. Sure, he’d read books about demons, but like, for the most part it was the basic ones that you’d see. Incubus, succubus, or demons based on rage or greed or some other seven deadly sins related stuff.
That had been the trend at the time.
But with this information, it really made Cass wonder...
"When I told you that, did I specifically also mention if I asked about it?" Cass asked the banker, and he fidgeted, before he nodded, swallowing as he looked grim.
"Yes, my Lord. it...included if you asked to know." Cass grumbled. Fuck. Lord Blackburn wasn’t an idiot, and if he had been making fucking deals with demons, that would mean he would be worried about being taken over.
What the fuck was he doing behind the scenes that would get him involved with demons? Especially if his mother, who ruined the family name, was supposedly involved with demons? Why would he do that? Why would he need to get involved with demons?
Fuck. He wished that Lord Blackburn hadn’t been such a good fucking villain. As much as the others had been weary about him, i.e. the other men, Lady Fiona, and he was pretty sure Lady Ava were blindsided by it. Given how suspicious Lady Fiona had been of him so far, that did seem like a feat of some kind.
"Well, that is just what it is then." Cass muttered, before he sighed again. "Alright, give me the details then, without giving me numbers. You can do that, can’t you?" Cass asked, tired already as he pulled out some paper, and the bank manager began to rifle through the bag that he had brought. He seemed relieved that Cass wasn’t asking about totals anymore, and was much happier to discuss what kind of accounts Lord Blackburn had.
Cass was surprised by the level of accounts that they already had, and he was only slightly surprised that most of Lord Blackburn’s accounts were linked to others.
He had a lot of saving accounts, and a lot of accounts he used for investments. It seems he had a few accounts linked to several large businesses in the area. He had set it up so that they were able to withdraw a certain amount each month to make sure that they were staying afloat, but if they withdrew more than that daily, over went over a certain amount agreed upon by both parties, he was to be notified.
So far, while Cass had been here, that hadn’t happened. But, it was getting close with two of the companies that were linked to the account. While the manager wasn’t able to say the totals that they were working in, it did appear that he was worried.
Cass could understand. This was an easy way to be taken advantage of. If the company said that they were ’just trying to stay afloat’ and took just under the concerning amounts, they could run away with his money. If they had at least slightly believable books, that would be an easy excuse and they could rob Lord Blackburn of his investment.
Cass wondered if these idiots even knew what an investment meant.
You had to pay it back, idiots.
It wasn’t a grant, it was closer to a loan, but it was clear, if these two companies weren’t having troubles, that they thought they were being smart. Cass asked the banker for all of the information on how many companies were linked to his accounts that he had set up this way, Cass made a note, and compared it to the notes of the companies that he had found mentioned in normal documents that Lord Blackburn had created.
There were two that weren’t listed, and that caused Cass to pause. Huh. How much was he to bet that one of those was a secret company that Lord Blackburn had started? And why was one of them one of the companies trying to rob him?
Damn. People were trying to take advantage of him.
"Um, my Lord?" The banker was hesitant, especially after Cass had Sam hand back the papers after he’d looked at them. "I know this is overstepping my bounds, but may I ask why you are asking questions you already know the answers to?" Cass blinked several times, taking in his nervous stature and he felt a smirk touch his lips.
Cass put down his pen, before he raised his hands to his forehead and pushed his hair back. The horribly discoloured wound was still there, stitched up expertly, but still obviously healing. The banker gasped, covering his mouth.
"I had an accident. Head wounds are quite terrible, and while I remember most things, some are still fuzzy. While you are overstepping your bounds, you have answered all of my questions without prejudice, and I appreciate that. So, I have answered your question, yes?" Cass asked, the smile still on his lips.
The banker looked pale, shaken, and his eyes were wide.
"Did you get that while...in a dungeon?" He asked and Cass shook his head, dropping his hair back, covering the healing wound.
"No. I got it while training. It happens, but is still rather unfortunate. As I said, most things have returned, but unfortunately, some things just...haven’t." Cass sighed, shaking his head. "I know it is rather suspicious, but trust me when I say that I have already been cleared of suspicion." Cass told him with a smile.
The banker flinched, and Cass knew that it had crossed his mind.
That Lord Blackburn, of the family that had been accused of making deals with demons, had been replaced by a demon. The banker began to sputter, while Cass just laughed it off.
What could he say? It was clear that Lord Blackburn had worried about this as well. Cass wondered how many blocks he had put in the way to prevent an evil entity from gaining his assets? He was a rather thorough man, Lord Blackburn, and even if he was annoyed, he was still kind of pleased with him.
He’d been a great villain up until the last moment.
A knock sounded on the door, and Sam raised his head, looking up before Cass glanced at the clock. It was time for his next meeting, and the banker seemed to relax.
"Well, unfortunately, that’s all the time we have today. I appreciate you coming so last minute. Hopefully, I too shall get to the bottom of these rather...audacious people attempting to not pay their dues." Cass said.
The other side of the accounts was that they were supposed to put money back into them as well. It wasn’t just for withdrawal. Cass didn’t think that Lord Blackburn was a bad businessman, or how else would he have made as much money as he wasn’t allowed to know in full as he had? Enough to throw around, buy several shops full inventory, invest in several companies and had so many damn accounts?
That was a fuck ton of money. The most he’d probably ever have in his lifetime. Cass had gone from essentially a beggar to a damn near billionaire, and now he had to hunt down the people who were taking advantage of him.
"Oh, before we leave, I would like to let you know that the orphanage that is on the way in when you are coming to the mansion is going to be added to the account. They will be slightly different, since they are not supposed to pay me back for anything that they need. I’m becoming a sponsor for them." The banker blinked, halfway out of his chair as Cass dropped this bomb on him.
"W-What?" The banker stuttered.
"I am sponsoring an orphanage. Is that too hard to understand?" Cass asked and the man swallowed, before shaking his head.
"No no, not at all. I...I will stop in on my way out and speak to them about what they need to do to get into your account." Cass nodded.
"I would appreciate it." Cass told him, and the banker nodded, before he bowed and rushed out of the study. Sam refreshed Cass’ tea, smiling.
"He was quite surprised to hear that you were sponsoring an orphanage." Sam seemed pleased about that while Cass sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"Am I that bad of a person that no one would think I would do that?" Cass asked and Sam chuckled.
"No my Lord. You are just that rich that no one would think you would consider something like an orphanage." Sam told him and Cass nodded. Right. Lord Blackburn probably knew of orphanages, but had never touched one. Cass was hyper aware because of his own childhood.
He hoped that Lord Blackburn didn’t think it was a waste of money. He could look at it as investing in the future. People who could help him. At least, that was what he was telling himself as he remembered how excited they had all been about the candy and toys. Something that he had wanted someone to do for him as a kid.